The benefits system provides a number of different funding streams for older people and their carers that help towards the cost of care. Some of these streams are means tested – i.e. some are based on income, others are based upon care needs, and others on what other benefits someone may be on. It’s complicated! There is paperwork to be completed, but it’s well worth ensuring that your parents and relatives are receiving the benefits they are eligible for. Click on the quick links directly below, or read on for more information about the main benefits available from April 2026.
- Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA) / Personal Independent Payments (PIP)
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Benefits for Carers
In addition to the State Pension and Pension Credit, the other main benefits available are:
1) Attendance Allowance
Attendance allowance is a benefit available to the majority of people who need more help. It is for anyone over the State Pension age who needs help with social care – washing, dressing or eating – due to an illness or disability. It is not means-tested, so it depends on your income(s) or savings, and it is paid whether or not you already receive help from a carer. It is also tax-free. It is available for those who need to be looked after by day and/or overnight, in case help is needed.
The Attendance Allowance (2026/27) lower rate of £76.70 per week for only/either day or night and the higher rate of £114.60 a week for day and night is available to anyone who fulfils the following criteria: a physical disability such as blindness, a mental disability including dementia and learning difficulties, or both; people with a disability severe enough to need help caring for themselves, or need someone to supervise them, for their own or someone else’s safety.
Attendance Allowance is awarded based on needs, not just a medical condition. Age UK says that many applications are turned down because people don’t mention or aren’t clear about how their illness or disability affects their lives. Don’t let your parents under-estimate their needs when filling in the form. Their advice suggests that you should consider the following:
- Describe any accidents/falls
- Explain the effects of all disabilities and health conditions and how they interact with each other
- List things that your parent struggles to do unaided, even if they have developed ways to cope. If an activity takes longer than it would someone else, or if its difficult to do safely then this can be taken into account. Also say if your parent needs reminding or encouraging to do things, as this also counts as help
- To qualify for the lower rate of Attendance Allowance you have to show that help is needed “frequently” – e.g. help with your appearance on a daily basis
Bear in mind that Attendance Allowance doesn’t usually take into account problems with housework, cooking, shopping and gardening. If you mention problems with these make sure you also include other “health related” problems as you’re unlikely to receive support if household chores are the focus of the application.
Read our guide to see if your parent is eligible for Attendance Allowance. You can apply on behalf of your parent. There is good advice for completing the form on which.co.uk.
Use Kinly.org for expert help with Attendance Allowance, Blue Badges and more.
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2) Disability Living Allowance (DLA) / Personal Independence Payments (PIP)
Personal Independent Payments (PIPs) can help with some of the extra costs of personal care or mobility due to a long-term illness or disability. They have replaced the DLA and are being phased out for anyone aged 68 or younger in 2015, so many elderly parents may still be receiving DLA. PIPs are not means-tested: they are needs based and not dependent upon income/savings. There are 2 elements to a DLA/PIP:
Daily Living component – claimants are assessed on things like ability to prepare food and drink, wash, dress, go to the toilet, manage health conditions and make financial decisions. The rates (2026/27) is £76.70 a week and the enhanced rate is £114.60 a week.
Mobility component – claimants are assessed on their ability to plan and follow a journey and move around. The standard rate (2026/27 is £30.30 a week and the enhanced rate is £80.00 a week). Applicants will be assessed, and can be eligible to receive both elements. To apply, you need to contact the Department of Work and Pensions on 0800 917 2222.
3) Constant Attendance Allowance
This allowance is payable to people who need daily care and attention due to a disability as a result of an accident or disease caused by work, or a War Disablement Pension. Payments range from £45.10 part-day rate to £180.40 for exceptional needs depending upon the extent of the disability and the amount of care needed.
Your relative cannot receive both this and the Attendance Allowance, however this can be topped up to bring them both to the same level. Claiming CAA may affect entitlement to other means-tested benefits such as income support, pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit.
Benefits for Carers
A Carer’s Allowance, £86.45 (2026/27) per week, is available for someone who spends more than 35 hours per week caring for someone else (who may or may not be a relative). It is a means tested benefit, so is only available to someone earning (income and benefits) less than £196 a week after tax.
There are a number of criteria the carer needs to fulfil in order to be eligible; the Carer’s Allowance is taxable and may affect an entitlement to other benefits. Only one person can claim the Carer’s Allowance if there are more than one person caring; if you are in receipt of other benefits, such as retirement pension, you may not get any or all the Carer’s Allowance. If you were entitled to Carer’s Allowance before claiming it, you can ask for it to be backdated for three months.
Council Tax Discount
Live-in carers may be eligible for a Council Tax discount between 25% and 100%.
Live-in carers are eligible for reductions on their bill if they look after someone with a disability who isn’t their partner, spouse, or child under 18, for an average of at least 35 hours a week. Reductions can knock 25% or 50% off a Council Tax bill (with a 25% discount typically worth £500 a year).
The person cared for must be receiving one of the following benefits:
- Attendance allowance
- Middle or higher rate of the care component of disability living allowance
- Standard or enhanced rate of the daily living component of personal independence payment
- An increase in constant attendance allowance
- An increase in disablement pension
- Armed forces independence payment (any amount)
You can apply via your local council’s website. There is also more information available on GOV.UK.
An investigation by MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE) found that many councils gave incorrect or incomplete information on their websites about the discount. This may lead to carers being discouraged from claiming the discount they’re entitled to, so make sure you check again.
Carer’s Credit
Carer’s Credit works as an alternative to making NI contributions (in lieu of work), and helps to build an entitlement to the basic state pension. It is not means tested, and to qualify you must be aged 16 or over, under state pension age and looking after someone for at least 20 hours a week.
The person being cared for must receive one or more benefits. Carer’s Credit allows you to take short breaks including holidays or when the person you are caring for goes into hospital. If you get Carer’s Allowance you’ll automatically also receive Carer’s Credit. If not, contact the Carer’s Allowance Unit on 0845 608 4321.
Universal Credit replaces six existing benefits for people who are out of work or are on a low income. If you are receiving universal credit you may be able to get an extra amount because of your caring role, without having to apply for a Carer’s Allowance, which is known as a ‘carer element’. You can’t get both. For more information contact the Universal Credit helpline on 0845 600 0723.
Read our comprehensive guide to Carer’s Credit for more information.
You might also be interested in looking at our sections on Local Authority Funding and NHS Funded Care.
Benefits made simple is an episode of the Age Space Podcast. In it, Annabel talks to finance guru Jason Butler, who highlights some key pots of funding which are available to you or the person for whom you are caring.
What to do next
If you think you could be eligible for these benefits, the application process can seem overwhelming. To help you move forward, here are the practical next steps you need to take:
- Work out exactly which benefits you are eligible for.
- If you’re still unsure, you can use online benefits calculators, which can help you quickly and easily find out what you could be claiming. AgeUK’s calculator is free to use.
- Cover all bases! There are other benefits you might not think of, from TV licenses to public transport.
- Each application is different, but it can be helpful to have the following details to hand before you get started. This can include but is not limited to: your National Insurance number, your bank account details, information about your income/savings/investments, information about your pension, details of housing costs (such as a mortgage, interest payments or service charges), and your partner’s details.
- Start applying. This can be done on GOV.UK.
- If you are still struggling, there are helplines available for each funding stream.
Confused about paying for elderly care? Learn about funding options and essential local authority assessments in our guide to funding elderly care.
This article has been prepared using guidance from trusted organisations and reflects the latest benefit rates for the 2026 to 2027 financial year.
While most of the information applies across the UK, someone disability benefits are delivered differently depending on where you live. For example, in Scotland Attendance Allowance has been replaced by Pension Age Disability Payment, while arrangements in Wales and Northern Ireland remain broadly the same.
Sources include: Gov.uk
